For a long time, the appeal of Ontario's Muskoka region -- splashing in a cool lake or the mournful call of a loon -- stayed rugged, even in cottage country. Some of that rustic simplicity still exists, but today, this vast region east of Georgian Bay welcomes more than two million people a year to 70,000 cottages and about 300 lodging establishments. Vacationers take boat cruises, visit museums and historical sites, and enjoy live theatre, art galleries and antiquing. Sportsmen come in summer for fishing, swimming, hiking, cycling and golf. Boating is No. 1 in Muskoka, and it ranges widely in style. You'll see solo paddlers in canoes and chi-chi cocktail parties on vintage mahogany runabouts.

Visitors also come for the creative food. You'll be seduced by kid-friendly treats at Belly Ice Cream and the Old English Cookie and Fudge Company. Stock up for the cottage at gourmet shops like the Farmer's Daughter or Stephen's Butcher Shop. Or splurge on gastronomic cuisine at dining hot spots like 3 Guys and a Stove or the Deerhurst Resort. Savour Muskoka is an association of local farmers, chefs and culinary artisans who produce delicacies. The farms that thrive here are more likely to be small family affairs that raise sheep or beef or grow vegetables.

"Just be hungry when you arrive," said James Murphy, director of Savour Muskoka. "The emphasis is on 'local.' All of our members produce their goods to reflect the 'terroir' of the region. There are virtually no artificial ingredients, so the taste really comes through."

Huntsville remains one of the gateways to Muskoka.

The nearby Walker Lake Resort is a peaceful family getaway nestled in the woods on an almost private lake. The seven rustic vintage chalets have kitchens and barbecues: the ideal formula is to cook in for breakfast and lunch and take a few evenings to sample the fine country cuisine at the resort's Norsemen Restaurant. The owner, Les Gayne, can arrange babysitting. The Norsemen sticks to the Savour Muskoka principle: buying locally. Specialties include game, steak, cassoulet with duck and lamb and homemade sausages. The Norsemen uses local ingredients like Big Ass garlic, baked goods from Windmill Bakery, eggs and vegetables from Grenville Farm and pork from Winding Fences farm.

A more sophisticated hotel choice for foodies is the Deerhurst Resort, also near Huntsville, where executive chef Rory Golden produces his own honey and maple syrup. Golden works with local producers like Milford Bay Trout Farm to create a smoked trout "cheesecake" or Ivanita Farm for his Highland beef striploin.

With 400 rooms and condos, three dining spaces, complete sports facilities and a tranquil lakefront setting, the century-old Deerhurst is considered the doyenne of Muskoka resorts. It will host the G8 conference, so it is off limits June 15-30 when world leaders will convene. The resort hosts the annual Muskoka Food & Drink festival, July 16-18. Art of grilling sessions will be led by barbecue chef Ted Reader.

A labyrinth of country roads snakes through Muskoka, winding around the bustling towns, skirting the lakes and water, and linking villages and farms.

Everyone's first stop along the Savour Muskoka trail should be the Old English Cookie and Fudge Company in Gravenhurst; it's guaranteed to sweeten the experience. Henny and Randy Brown bake 40 flavours of fudge, including key lime pie fudge, Kahlua mudslide and rum-and-eggnog.

Leaving Muskoka's main thoroughfare, Route 11, head northwest along Route 169 for about 20 kilometres to Bala, Ontario's cranberry capital. At Johnston's Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes Winery, you can load up on tangy preserves, juice and wine. The farm is a busy place, open daily for tours, hiking, children's activities and wine tastings.

It's a 15-minute drive north from Bala to Port Carling, a waterfront village where tiny shops and cute cafes line the main street. The Segwun, a 99-passenger cruise ship, is an enduring symbol of Muskoka, a vintage coal-fired steamer that squeezes through Port Carling's locks and past the drawbridge at the heart of town. The 2010 Muskoka Lakes Association Antique Boat Show (Aug. 7) will focus on Race Boats of Muskoka and feature beauties from the 1920s to the 1940s.

---

IF YOU GO

The Norsemen Restaurant & Walker Lake Resort in Huntsville, 800-565-3856, www.norsemen-walkerlake.com. Two-bedroom cottages with kitchens and barbecue, $950 to $1,500 a week, for four to six people; three bedrooms, $1,650 a week for up to eight. Discounts of 20 per cent are offered before June 15, 2010 and after Labour Day. Meals are not included. Guests can use canoes, kayaks, sand beach, fishing boats, bonfire and lake swimming area.

Deerhurst Resort, 800-461-4393, www.deerhurstresort.com. Prices are approximate and fluctuate daily. Until mid-June, rooms in main building cost $129 to $199 a day for two, without meals. Add $65 for MAP plan (breakfast buffet and three-course dinner). Deerhurst is fully booked June 15 to 29, 2010. Rates from June 30 to Sept. 6, 2010 are $209 to $279. The Thrill of the Grill, an all-inclusive two-night event (July 16-18, 2010) starts at $399 per person, double occupancy. Two-and three-bedroom condo-style suites with kitchens are available. Rates include access to three outdoor pools, hiking trails, indoor pool and indoor and outdoor tennis. Children under 18 stay for free.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.